Inflation unit for inflatable flotation devices



June 26, 1945. J. HQNEGGER ETA;` 2,378,924

INFLATION UNIT FOR INFLATABLE FLOTATION DEVICE Filed NOV. 26, 1942 AT EY`Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED [STATE INFLATION UNIT FOR INFLA'IVABLE iFLOTATION DEVICES John A. Honegger, Bloomeld,` and Alvin W.

i Keeslian, Belleville, N. J., assignors to Kdde Manufacturing Co.,Inc., Bloomfield, N. ,.I., a

` corporation of *Delaware Application November 26, 1342, serial Ne.467,038

, claims. (cl. 222-3) Y The present invention relates `to inilationunits for inflatable flotationh devices, such as life vests, life belts,life rafts and similar life-saving devices adaptedto be inflated by acompressed` or liquefied gaseous medium; and more lparticularly to animproved connection for attaching `the innation units to the flotationdevices.`

An object of the invention is to provide an improved connectionforattaching an inflation unit to an `inflatable flotation device.

Another object `is to provide a connection of the foregoing characterwhich comprises a miniopening II through whichthe wearer may insert hishead, and has a strapIZ adaptedto be adjusted around the waist of thewearer and has a crotch strap I4 adapted tobe `positioned betweenthelegs of the wearer.

At a `,convenient location, an inflation unitl i is attached to thelife-preserver It. The inflamum `number of yparts adapted to be readilyasf sembled in a convenient manner.

Another object is to provide a connection which 1j facilitates removalof the inflation unit from the flotation device for the purpose ofreplacement of parts or repairs.

Another object is to provide a connection have f ing aminimum number of`points at which leak-` age may OCCHI.

A further object consistsin the features of conv struction, thecombination of elements, and the w arrangement of parts, whereby theforegoing ob- Y `jects may be accomplished.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantagesnotreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the artuponemployment ofthe invention in practice.

A` preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been chosenior the 'purposesof illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying similarto Figure 2,

` drawing,` forming a part of the speciiication,` wherein: i i

illustrating a modied embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a 5-5 onFigure 4. Referring to the drawing, 1y to Figure 1, there is shown, byway of example, an inflatable life-preserver I0 constructed ofVrubberized brother suitable fabric. The life-preserver is of the typeprovided with an sectional View taken along `the line and moreparticulartion junit' comprisesa body member `I6 having a chamber I1 forhousing or storing a cartridge I9 (Figure 2) containing an inflatingmedium such as liquefied carbon dioxide, compressed air or the like, acap `2l) removably secured to one end of the body member "I6 adapted toseal the chamber, and suitable means for releasing the inflating mediumfrom the cartridge I 9. k

" The releasing means may be similartothe 'arrangement shown in UnitedStates Patent No. Reissue 20,047, wherein a pin pierces a sealing discor closure of the cartridge to thereby release the inating medium intothe chamberl of the body member. The pin of such means is adapted to beactuated by a lever 2 I, as shown herein (Figure 1), which may be rockedabout pivot` by a pull cable or cord 22 having a manually engageablehandle or button 24 at its` `free end. Since the releasing means, whichmayibe employed,` are Well known and do not constitute a part of thepresent invention a detaileddescription thereof is not necessary. Thelever 2l is not shown in Figure 2, to simplify the View, but

it will be understood that the lever is adapted to be pivotally mountedin the slot 25 atl the lowerA to conduct the inflation medium fromthechamber I'I to the inflation compartment ofthe life-` `preserver.Preferably, a check `valve 2B, of the `commercial pneumatic automobiletire type, is screw threaded into the passage of thejstem, Whchisadaptedto permit the inflation medium to pass towards the inflationcompartment `of the life-preserver and prevents return flow of themedium towards the chamber I'I.

In order to facilitate connection between the body member ls and iheeiem32; iiie bedyirremu bei is` provided with e. portion `i4, ecieeeni to.

. maybe subjected,

seated a-sealing gasketor ring 39, andmay have.y e

a threaded portion 4U adjacent the opening of the socket. Preferably,the socket is interlorlyithreaded and the shoulder is formedinwardly oithe threads.

The freeend of the stem or tube 32 is adapted to be inserted into thesocketY and is` providedY with an outwardly projecting. annulanfla'nge4l,

spaced from the free end, one.side cil wh-ichlis adapted to abut thegasket 39.

The other side` of the ange 4I is adapted-to be engaged-.by a. Y

connecting member for urging the ange toward the shoulder, such as aferrule coupling nut, orY

sleeve dztelescoped aboutthe stem 32.A The ferrule may have anexteriorly threadedportiondd adapted to be screwedinto engagementwiththe threaded portion 40. of .the socketand Amay. be pro.- vided witha nut-like portion 45 latits outer` end for-facilitating engagement of`.the ferrule by a suitable tool. When the ferrule` issecured into thesocket, the stem is securely ConnectedI tothe body member I6, land theAgasket 39jformsia leaky proof seal.

Suitable means-(may be provided toprevent relative rotationbelweenthestern andthe body member. For example, as shown in ,Figurefg the baseofthe s ocketmay be provided with a tongue or projection llli-adaptedtelit into` a'jlongitudinally extendingslot or groovell'l attheVinserted `end ofthe stem.

InFigures 4 and the socket isplprovided with an octagonal b ore portion49 adaptedto receive a complementary.; portion 5D formed on the eX.-

terior on the stem adjacent the end thereof. If desired the bore portion49 land `the stem portion 50 may be Square, hexagona1 or, may, have anyother suitable shape. With this arrangement the bodymeinberl.maybemounted andsecured on thev Steminvarious positions ofangular'adjust- "ment ,with respect to the` life-preserver.

Itwllbe noted also thatthe shoulder 37 and lthe'` ila-nge M, inaddliionto compressing'the gasket 3.9 to'formaseal,Y serve to space the free(endj of the'sternfrom the base off the so,cket,`

whereby the inflationmedium passingthrough the aperture 36 and enteringIthe socket is adapted to -opw through thepassage 33- ofithe stemy.,`

Fromy the foregoing I description it AWill'fbe Vseen that ,theV presentinvention provides `an improved inflation -unit anda connection forattaohingfthe unit to an vinflatable device. The unit; and Mitsconnection comprisea minimumunumber ofjparts which are readily assembledor taken apart for repairs.` The connection is leakproofand'preventstheloss ofthe' inflating medium; The parts of theA unit. are rugged inlconstruction 4andgcan readily withstand any rough usage to which theyrAsyvarious.changes may be made` in the form, construction andarrangement of 1 theV parts herein, without departing from thespiritand-scope ofthe invention and Without sacrificing any' ofadvantages, it is to be understood thatallmatter herein is tobeinterpretedas illustrative and not in any limitingsense.

1t. is ,e150 te be understood that the Afollowing claimsy areintendedfto cover all .the 'genericand 4`lliric,features of the.invention hereindesoribed,

and all statements-of the scope of the invention which, as a matter oflanguage, might be said to fall therebetween.

We claim:

1. An ination unit for attachment to one side f of an iniiatableflotation device, comprising an elongated body memberhaving` a chamberfor storing acontainer of fluid'pressure medium to inilate the flotationdevice and provided on one 'side with an oiset portion formed with asocket defined by an inner end face and extending tangentially lwithrespect to said chamber and communicating with the latter 'adjacent saidinner endzface, said socket having a shoulder, a stem having aV passagethereinA provided with avalve andadapted to conduct and control uidmedium from said chamber to the flotation device, saidstem havinganinner radial face disposed in spaced `relation with said inner endface and provided with a flange arranged a predetermined distancefromsaid radial facejandzmeansvcarriedionvsaid stem and detachably securedlztosaid offset portion for; couplingsaid stemgjto said portion inxedrelation, said shoulder:coactingfvvith said flange in amanner toposition` andv maintain said ,radial face of` said steminsaidy'spaced'relaf tion'to said inner `end face of said lsocketforzpermitting ,communicationv between said chamber and said socketatalltimes. y i K j, Y Y

2. An inflation unit. for airilinflatablelotatlon device;` comprisinga.body member having` a.

chamber. for storing a container of fluid pressure lledillll7 adapted toinflateithe device,` -`said 4.body

member having a1 socket formed-With al shoulder and extendingtangentially. with. respectt tof,said chamber and definedbyaninnerendfaceisaid body` member formed. with an opening eifeetingcommunication between said' chamber andsaid socket. adjacent said, innerend 'fCayastelLhaving a ,passage therein provided with,` avalve4 andadapted to conduct and control iiuid medium from said chamber tothe.notation device,- said stem having oneend disposed.insaidsockebandprovided with aliange arranged`4 4a predetermined distance from saiden'dof said stem, `andagrnem` ber securing `said stem' to isaidbodymembenand engaging saideflange tomaintainthe` latter in sealed relationwithsaidshoulder, sadshoulder cooperating wthsaidanee to maintansaidiendof, said stern in spaced relationto. saidinnr end face .and thus:permitk communication between said chamber and said so'cketthroughsaidLopen'- ing at all times, `said bodymemberan'dsad stem havingcooperating portQnS for preventingfrota.-

.tion therebetween. i i

3; An inflation unit for an iniiatable ijotation device, comprising abody member having, a

chamber for storing a containerof uidlpieSwre medium adapted lto inflatethedevioe, saidgbody member having a socket formed,witlralshoulder andextending' tan'gentiallyv with` respect jto. said chamber and definedbyj an inner end.fa.ce,' said body member formedwith an opening eectingcommunication between said chamber' andgsaid socket adjacent said innerendiface., a stern Having apassago therein providedwithla' valvefandadapted to `fconduct and controruidf medium from said chamber to theotation device, said stem having one end disposed in said socketlandbeing provided with a flangearrangedia predetermined distance fromsaidend oi 'fsaifd j stemg a member =semiringsaid'stem' to saideouy;and/en.; easing., said aange to L main'1am;thev latterN in sealed.,relation l with said shoulder, A and,."sealing Vmeal'xs.. between saidshoulder and.. said; 'ange,

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said faces are provided with a slotand tongue respectively t having interftting relation to precluderelative` rotation of said bodymember and stem and thus maintain saidbody member in fixed relation with said flotation device. l 5. Aninflation unit for an inflatable notation device, `comprising anelongated bo'dy member ture communicating with said chamber, a stemhaving a passage therein provided with a valve and adapted to conductand control uid medium fromlsaid chamber to the flotationdevice, saidstern` having an opening and provided with a shoulder arranged apredetermined distance from said opening, and means detachably securedbetween said offset portion andsaid stem for cou` pling said stem tosaid portion in fixed relation,`

said socket shouldencooperating withsaid stem shoulder in a manner to.position and maintain having a chamber for storing a container of fluid1 l pressure medium to inflate the flotation device and provided on oneside with an offset element formed with a: socket portion extendingtangentially with respectto said chamber, said socket said stem openingin predetermined relation to said aperture to provide communicationbetween said chamber and said socket portion at all times,

said body member and. said stem having'oooper- .ating `portions forpreventing rotation therebe- 1 tween;

p f JOHN A. HONEGGER. t ALVINW. KEESHAN.

portion including a shoulder and having an aperl

